Joan the great!

Whatever her age is she's amazing and performs her memoir so graciously and with such feeling and warmth it's like she's in the room. This book covers her early years through Dynasty's beginning and what a career she's had. It was originally published in the 80s so this is a wonderful time capsule. I got the sense that she's like the Forrest Gump of Hollywood from the 60s onwards - her path crossed with literally everyone who was a star in those decades. The stories from the early film sets are a scream. My favorite quote is probably "Show me a faultless person and I'll show you a dull one!" but it was hard to choose.

3 people found this helpful

Frozen in Time

This may have cause a sensation when it came out, but now it's like an unreleased album from a mid-tier pop artist from the 70s that was suddenly available, forever of its time and a curiosity in the present. The last of the chinchilla, diamonds, and affairs celebrities, Joan Collins could have achieved much more if she hadn't based her decisions and life to match ridiculous horoscope readings, which this book is littered with. To me, her greatest role was as Edith Keeler in the OST episode "City on the Edge of Forever." She really had something, but a life full of poor decisions with her career and men took her someplace else, and I'm glad she is happy with her life. What's really interesting is that the audiobook contains some slips where she re-reads certain phrases and then tries out a different cadence/emphasis. Flawed but fascinating.

3 people found this helpful

excellence, keeps you hanging on !

exceptional book. performance beyond superior! honest, brave and witty. five stars. beginning was a little slow, being its her childhood, but quickly speeds up into a great adventure. takes you to glamorous old Hollywood, with behind the scenes realness. riveting listen.

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Stops mid-Dynasty, just so you know

Dynasty: 1981-1989. And this reading by Ms Collins, which she does very well, considering it IS her life, ends mid-series.

If you are expecting post-Dynasty disclosures: NO! Ends in midst of Dynasty while still on air! Which was ... upsetting.

And the dear woman keeps warbling on and on about being a Gemini. Which, Joan, hello? That's just your Sun sign, dear! You have an Ascendant sign and a Moon sign, Very important! It's like trying to bt on a horse race where the horse looks great, but there are glaring omissions in the lack of a saddle and the lack of a jockey.

Moving on, however, up to the momentous inclusion of her vamp-devil- deva as Alexis (gleaned from a swift Google search, as I never watched the show, so sorry ...), Ms Collins led a life on the move. LIterally. At one point and with three children and a husband, 74 suitcases, London to Hollywood. Whew! Quite takes one breath away. And choosing sad, bad and occasionally married lover men. I applaud her insights into herself as one by one by one by one, she recounts her loves, her dalliances and her losses. She was waaaaaay ahead of her time in taking responsbility for being a stunning, smart and sexy woman and frankly owning her body and her choices. And mauled in the press for it, too, more''s the pity.

Above all, and as she makes considerable mention, she loved to act, she loved her job. When separated from 'camera, lights, action', not a happy camper. I wish more of her foreign films were available, although a few were appanrently fortunate not to make the trip across the pond: hey, a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do.

In closing, two final comments. I deeply respect her love for her children and the childen of her third husband. She carried immense baggage from -- as she discovers later in life -- misunderstanding and missing out in better knowing her own mother and gave great love to her own children.

Anthony Newley. I mean .... that entire adventure of that marital relationship had me screaming back at the Audiobook, "You can never take anyone on as a fix-'er-upper project! Leave! Leave now!" I personally never liked his songs, his acting or his theatrical offerings, although many do ... and well done them.

Gorgeous, talented, artitistic, capricious, sentimental, courageous and committed. And no one looks better in red lipstick.

2 people found this helpful

Great

What a great book ... I loved listening to Joan's voice telling her incredible story.

1 person found this helpful

Authentic and Interesting

We all have some level of voyeur in us and an interest in the lives and professions of others that are far removed from our own.
This memoir gives an authentic glimpse into the workings and history of an industry that I know little of but have always been interested in knowing more about. I enjoyed hearing about some of the technical aspects of the industry from Ms. Collin’s perspective.
I’ve always respected the talent of so many great actors and always understood the difference between the actors as people and their performances. It was thoroughly enjoyable.

A beautifully told, inspiring autobiography

Loved it!! Thank you, Joan, for narrating an inspiring look in to your life and thoughts!

Fantastic

I loved every moment. Joan expertly delivers her story with humility, sincerity, humor, and passion. I didn’t want it to end.

Fun read of old Hollywood!

I loved the fact that I got to know so much about Joan Collins in her younger years because I only knew her beginning with Dynasty. The stories about old Hollywood royalty with all its style and glamour were interesting, fun and made me feel like I was an insider. She’s a tough lady and a great storyteller!

A classic… With brilliant enduring power!

Does my rave above refer to her book, Past Imperfect, or to Dame Joan Collins herself?

The answer: Fabulously Both! ✨🎭💫